Welcome to Walpole

Introducing Difference Coffee, our latest Walpole member

Learn a little more about Difference Coffee, our latest member collecting the very highest-graded coffees in capsules, as we sit down with the brand's Founder, Amir Gehl
4th Mar 2024
Welcome to Walpole Introducing Difference Coffee, our latest Walpole member

Difference Coffee blends the innovative and exploratory spirit of Britain's early coffee houses with a dedication to sourcing the world's finest beans, served alongside the commitment to supporting ethical and sustainable farmers. A graduate of the Brands of Tomorrow 2023 programme, we are pleased to welcome Difference Coffee as a fully-fledged Walpole Member. 

Learn a little more about our latest addition to the Walpole family in our interview with the brand's Founder, Amir Gehl...

 
 
 
 
Amir Gehl, Founder, Difference Coffee

Walpole: Tell us about the history of your brand…

Amir Gehl: I founded Difference Coffee with a single aim: to make the world’s most delicious and rare top-quality coffees from legendary estates attainable to discerning coffee aficionados worldwide – while taking every measure to be a responsible company. Most coffee lovers have never tasted the world's best coffees. Difference Coffee creates accessibility to award-winning, small batch, almost–impossible–to–access, artisan coffee, and supports exceptional small growers who farm ethically and sustainably.

What is your brand best known for?

Difference Coffee is best known for its exceptional quality and exclusivity, offering rare and award-winning coffee capsules that are often used in Michelin-starred restaurants – around 25% of British establishments serve us. Our brand stands out for its meticulous selection process, ensuring each coffee variety we offer – from Jamaican Blue Mountain to Kopi Luwak – meets the highest standards of taste and excellence.

What has been a significant achievement in your company’s timeline?

A landmark achievement in our company's history has been our notable expansion into the Italian luxury hospitality market, highlighting our commitment to unparalleled quality. This progress is exemplified by our exclusive partnerships with esteemed establishments like Michelin three-starred Piazza Duomo and luxurious Hotel Principe Forte dei Marmi. These collaborations affirm our standing as a purveyor of exceptional coffee, cherished by the most discerning clientele in Italy and beyond, while underscoring our contributions to elevating coffee standards within the luxury segment.

Why do you love the brand?

I love Difference Coffee because it embodies a passion for excellence and a commitment to bringing the extraordinary into everyday moments. This brand isn't just about offering the world's finest coffees, it's about the joy and pursuit of perfection, the stories behind each cup, and the communities we support along the way. It embodies our dedication to quality, and to the art of coffee, making every sip a celebration of the best the world has to offer. For me, Difference Coffee is more than a brand; it's a journey of discovery and a constant reminder of the beauty in detail.

Why does your brand represent the very best in British luxury?

Difference Coffee represents the pinnacle of British luxury by intertwining the rich, historical tapestry of coffee in Britain with contemporary excellence and innovation. Coffee houses in 17th– and 18th–century Britain were not merely places to enjoy a cup, they were the epicentre of intellectual, commercial, and political exchange, symbolising the nation's zest for discovery, debate, and entrepreneurship. Embracing this heritage, Difference Coffee has elevated itself as a global leader in the luxury coffee market by meticulously sourcing the world's most exceptional coffees, thus continuing Britain's legacy of exploration and excellence. Our commitment to quality, combined with a deep respect for history, uniquely positions us in the modern luxury landscape as a brand both rooted in rich tradition and at the forefront of gastronomic innovation.

What attracted you to becoming a Walpole member?

Becoming a Walpole member was particularly meaningful for Difference Coffee as we were a member of the Class of 2023 Brand of Tomorrow programme. This recognition by Walpole, a hallmark of British luxury, underscored our commitment to excellence, craftsmanship, and innovation, aligning perfectly with our ethos. Being part of Walpole not only connects us with the best of British luxury but also validates our journey from an ambitious startup to a recognised leader in the luxury coffee market.

If you could collaborate with another Walpole member, which one would you choose?

I'm drawn to the idea of partnering with a hotel, or even a group of hotels, to explore innovative avenues of collaboration. While today's landscape sees numerous collaborations between hotels and fashion brands, like Ritz Paris x Frame, and some between coffee and hotels, there's a notable gap for product-led partnerships that transcend the hotel's physical space. This would be achieved by integrating the hotel's branding with our coffee capsules, ensuring their patrons are reminded of their stay multiple times a day through a simple, yet meaningful, daily ritual. This approach aims to create a tangible connection between the luxury of hospitality and the daily pleasure of coffee, merging two worlds in a novel and mutually beneficial way.

Tell us about an exciting development or new launch for your brand in the coming months...

In the coming months, Difference Coffee is set to embark on an exciting new phase of expansion, broadening our horizons beyond the Michelin-starred market to embrace the realms of luxury hotels and retail corporate hospitality. Our focus on these two key areas stems from our belief in the significant value and distinction our coffee collection can bring to them.

For luxury hotels, especially boutique establishments, offering a unique and superior coffee experience can dramatically enhance their competitive edge. It's not just about elevating the brand's positioning; our diverse and premium coffee selection enables hotels to develop a more varied and profitable coffee program, impacting the bottom line positively.

Meanwhile, in the luxury retail sector, we recognise the urgent need to re-attract customers to physical stores. Coffee, a simple pleasure enjoyed and often needed by many around the world, emerges as an affordable yet effective solution. Our successful collaboration with high-end brands like Audemars Piguet illustrates how offering an exceptional cup of coffee can enhance customer relations. This strategic shift reflects our commitment to innovation and excellence, aiming to redefine the luxury coffee experience across these dynamic sectors.

> Visit Difference Coffee's Walpole member profile

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